A Cheesecake Factory pasta dish with 3,120 calories - or more than a day and a half of the recommended caloric intake for an average adult - is among the headliners on this year's Xtreme Eating list of the most unhealthy dishes at US chain restaurants.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer-focused non-profit group that promotes healthier eating, compiles an annual list of "food porn" to alert consumers to menu items with eye-popping levels of calories, saturated fat, sugar and/or sodium.

"You'd think that the size of their profits depended on their increasing the size of your pants," CSPI director Michael Jacobson said of the industry's Xtreme Eating winners. The list was released today.
CSPI for years has used the "awards" to raise awareness and drum up support for calorie disclosure on restaurant menus - something that larger chains soon will be required to do under the US health reform law.

The Cheesecake Factory's bistro shrimp pasta, made with a butter and cream sauce and topped with battered, fried shrimp, also contains a 89g of saturated fat and 1,090mg of sodium. CSPI said it confirmed the nutritional data with the companies on the list.

Typical adults are advised to consume no more than 20g of saturated fat and 1,500mg of sodium per day.

"It's like eating three orders of Olive Garden's lasagna classico plus an order of tiramisu for dinner," CSPI said. Some in the food and beverage industries have dubbed the Washington-based group the "food police".

- Johnny Rockets' bacon cheddar double hamburger with 1,770 calories, 50g of saturated fat and 2,380mg of sodium. For comparison, three quarter pounders with cheese from McDonald's have 1,570 calories.

- Cheesecake Factory's crispy chicken costoletta with 2,610 calories, 89g of saturated fat and 2,720mg of sodium. CSPI said an entire 12-piece bucket of KFC original recipe fried chicken has about the same number of calories but less than half the saturated fat.

- Smoothie King's peanut power plus grape smoothie, which includes peanut butter, banana, sugar and grape juice. A large size of that drink has 1,460 calories and 22 teaspoons of added sugar plus 29 teaspoons of naturally occurring sugar. The US government's dietary guidelines for Americans recommends that women consume no more than six teaspoons of added sugars per day and that men consume no more than nine.

On a serious note, I have tried to eat at a Cheesecake Factory twice. I have not succeeded in actually consuming anything because every dish seems to be overwhelmed with cream, butter and fat rendering it inedible for me anyway.

On a serious note, I have tried to eat at a Cheesecake Factory twice. I have not succeeded in actually consuming anything because every dish seems to be overwhelmed with cream, butter and fat rendering it inedible for me anyway.

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Such " food " cannot be taken very seriously IMHO and you're right, shouldn't be consumed nor recommended. Glad you made the right choice.

On a serious note, I have tried to eat at a Cheesecake Factory twice. I have not succeeded in actually consuming anything because every dish seems to be overwhelmed with cream, butter and fat rendering it inedible for me anyway.

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In mid 90s, I used to have a client who was a huge fan of CF, I did find one item that I thought was 'good', it was a Southwest Egg Roll, filled w/grilled chicken, black beans, corn, onion, cilantro. I did actually enjoy that item. That said, I haven't been back for almost 20 years, as it wasn't that good

Is it just me or do others find the food ads not appealing (i.e. Red Lobster, Fridays, Olive Garden). I don't eat at these restaurants to begin with but the ads on TV show food that does not look good in the least.

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Is it just me or do others find the food ads not appealing (i.e. Red Lobster, Fridays, Olive Garden). I don't eat at these restaurants to begin with but the ads on TV show food that does not look good in the least.

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That is the perplexing thing to me. Many people obviously patronize these horrible places, but I personally don't know of anyone who does. Scary stuff!

The last time I went to TGI Fridays was a few years ago in Buenos Aires

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A few month ago I was @ TGI in Dublin, while the steak fillet was good, the service and ambiance wasn't, but the place is always busy. The drinks came only half way through our meal and than it was all served in plastic glasses. That's not what I want and that's not what I'm looking for when spending money for a nice meal.

In September 2012, we had been to Dubai, there we had dinner at the Applebee's Sheikh Zayed Road outlet and it was really nice, they had a great ambiance, some nice drinks and the walls had been decorated with some interesting memorabilia incl. sport and aviation related, while the food was good, it wasn't that good as I hoped it to be, it was our only Applebee's we frequented so far.

Regarding Cheesecake Factory, also in Dubai, at their new Dubai Mall location in Downtown Dubai, it was packed, meaning it was full of people to the rafters.

I hope TGI in Buenos Aires was good? Seeing your emoticon, it must have been good.

I hope TGI in Buenos Aires was good? Seeing your emoticon, it must have been good.

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This was in 2009 so almost 4 years ago now. I was in BA for an extended period of time for a particular project and after endless nights of Argentinian food (which is excellent), Brazilian food (which is excellent) we were wanting something different and as we were staying at the Hilton walking across to the TGI was easy and quick.

The ambiance was actually good, the food was surprisingly good, and the service was good. I am not a TGI "person" so to speak yet on this one occasion it filled a niche spot in an otherwise packed 8 weeks of very good food.

It's been a couple years since I have eaten at a Cheesecake Factory. I really appreciated the California law that forces them and other chain restaurants to put the calorie count on the menu. Made it easy to exclude 95% of the menu from consideration.

Sweet Corn Tamale Cakes – This appetizer sounds harmless enough, but the three small tamale cakes covered with sour cream and avocado also serve up a whopping 1,500 calories, 1,380 mg of sodium and 50 grams of saturated fat. That’s 500 calories for each tamale cake – and you haven’t even ordered your meal yet!

Fried Macaroni and Cheese – The Cheesecake Factory’s Macaroni and Cheese is already a belt-buster at 1,310 calories for a SIDE DISH. Fry it up as an appetizer and you’re eating 1,530 calories, 1,760 mg of sodium and 63 grams of saturated fat! Dip it in ranch dressing for added belly bulge.

“Weight Management” Asian Chicken Salad – Nevermind the fact that the title of this dish is embarrassing to speak aloud much less to order, this salad – while low in calories and saturated fat – still contains an enormous 2,600 milligrams of sodium, 600 more than the recommended daily intake. You may be managing your weight, but your blood pressure will be through the roof.

Caesar Salad with Chicken – Salad is healthy, right? Not with a pile of dressing, cheese and croutons on top. This dinner salad weighs in at 1,510 calories – almost three times as many calories as a Big Mac! Even the “small” lunch Caesar Salad with chicken packs 980 calories!

Beer Battered Fish & Chips – Can you consume all your recommended daily calories in one dish? You can if it’s The Cheesecake Factory’s Beer Battered Fish and Chips, which will knock you out with a gigantic 2,260 calories as well as 68 grams of saturated fat and 2,870 milligrams of sodium. Wash it down with a glass or two of ale and get serious about growing that beer belly.

Pasta Carbonara with Chicken – The calorie count on this creamy pasta dish will make you gasp (2,290), but the real kicker is the saturated fat – 81 grams. This is FOUR TIMES the recommended daily allowance for saturated fat in one dish – hope you like your arteries clogged.

Beef Ribs – Beef has gotten a bad name in the health food world, and with this Cheesecake Factory dish, it’s easy to see why. Served with French fries AND fried onion strings, the Beef Rib dinner delivers scale-tipping numbers in every area: 2,310 calories, 74 grams of saturated fat and 1,610 milligrams of sodium.

Spicy Cashew Chicken – This Mandarin-style dish is no slouch in the calorie department, holding a massive 1,810 calories, but the most shocking item is the level of sodium in this specialty dish: 4,450 milligrams, almost twice the suggested daily intake.

Adam’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake – One little slice of cheesecake couldn’t hurt, could it? Piled with fudge and peanut butter, this popular dessert packs a hefty 1,330 calories per slice as well as 40 grams of saturated fat. Hope you didn't eat any actual dinner.

Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake – This monstrosity makes a slice of cheesecake look like a dieter’s food. Order this for dessert and you will eat another 1,680 calories and 49 grams of saturated fat. Might want to hold the “a la mode” and instead sign up for a gym membership.

|| Creamy pasta dish tops US fatty list ||A Cheesecake Factory pasta dish with 3,120 calories - or more than a day and a half of the recommended caloric intake for an average adult - is among the headliners on this year's Xtreme Eating list of the most unhealthy dishes at US chain restaurants.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer-focused non-profit group that promotes healthier eating, compiles an annual list of "food porn" to alert consumers to menu items with eye-popping levels of calories, saturated fat, sugar and/or sodium.

"You'd think that the size of their profits depended on their increasing the size of your pants," CSPI director Michael Jacobson said of the industry's Xtreme Eating winners. The list was released today.
CSPI for years has used the "awards" to raise awareness and drum up support for calorie disclosure on restaurant menus - something that larger chains soon will be required to do under the US health reform law.

The Cheesecake Factory's bistro shrimp pasta, made with a butter and cream sauce and topped with battered, fried shrimp, also contains a 89g of saturated fat and 1,090mg of sodium. CSPI said it confirmed the nutritional data with the companies on the list.

Typical adults are advised to consume no more than 20g of saturated fat and 1,500mg of sodium per day.

I've only been to Cheesecake Factory twice, and both times against my will - went with boss's family. Their portions are huge, everything is overpowered with sauce or dressing. The salads don't even taste good. I don't understand what the attraction is.

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